Even though cultural practices may appear senseless or destructive from the standpoint of others, they have meaning and fulfil a function for those who practise them. However, culture is not static; it is in constant flux, adapting and reforming. People will change their behaviour when they understand the hazards and indignity of harmful practices and when they realise that it is possible to give up harmful practices without giving up meaningful aspects of their culture’ (WHO, 1997)

The reasons

FGM is a sociocultural tradition, often enforced by community pressure and the threat of stigma. Although every community in which FGM is found in Kenya has different specifics around the practice, there are several unifying rationales/beliefs.

FGM is considered necessary for a girl to become a woman. It is often done as a rite of passage to adulthood.FGM is claimed to preserve a girl’s virginity and protects her from promiscuity and immoral behavior. For some ethnic groups, an uncut girl is considered to be sexually promiscuous and not marriageable.

Finally, FGM is associated with sexuality and the aesthetic appearance of the female body; uncut genitalia can be considered unclean or too masculine. For some ethnic groups, such as the Embu, Kalenjin, Maasai and Meru, FGM is considered a rite of passage and necessary for a girl to go through in order to become a responsible member of society.

Girls who have not undergone FGM are often stigmatised. There is a strong link between FGM and marriageability, especially among the Maassai and Samburu, with ability to attract a higher bride price for a girl who has been cut being significant for the latter.

References: 28toomany.org - To read their report on FGM in Kenya click here